Program
We should bring our hearts to work, and qualities such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and reflective action are all part of this process. Service steeped in humanism, compassion, and understanding should be the cornerstone of what we do, and why we do it, for all members of our communities, including the underserved. Join Dr. Michael Stephens for an exploration of the importance of accessible, welcoming and responsive library environments that invite open and equitable participation, as well as an examination of which factors are preventing many libraries from ramping up community engagement and user-focused services.
The heart of librarianship is learning. It is a cyclical process of support, engagement and discovery with deep roots in the concepts of service, access and freedom to pursue interests of all kinds. No matter what type of institution, someone is gaining knowledge, finding information, or creating something new based on our facilitation. For librarians, taking the role of facilitator and guide is best delivered with humanity and heart. The library should encourage the heart!
Dr. Michael Stephens is associate professor in the School of Information at San Jose State University. He has delivered keynotes, papers and workshops throughout the U.S. and internationally. In 2018, he spent a month in Australia working with librarians and educators. In 2016, ALA Editions published five years of his Library Journal “Office Hours” columns as a book entitled The Heart of Librarianship.
ALA Unit/Subunit: ALA
Meeting Type: Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Michael Stephens
Associate Professor
SJSU School of Information